Philosophy Memes For The Overthinker Lifestyle

Updated on January 10, 2026

Philosophy memes are for when you want to feel smart and miserable at the same time. Like, yes, I can think about existence. No, I cannot sleep.

This is a set for students, idle thinkers, and anyone whose brain treats the big questions like a hobby it refuses to quit. Existential memes and philosophical, but with homework energy.

35 Philosophy Memes For Students And Idle Thinkers

The wolf-and-sheep “some would argue” meme is a classic because it catches you mid-crime. You’re citing a mysterious source. The source is you. Philosophy memes love exposing the little tricks we do to sound objective while being extremely personal.

Then there’s the guy claiming he could’ve been Socrates if he lived earlier, because there were only ten people and nothing else to do. That one hurts because it’s almost flattering. Modern life is noisy. Ancient life was just vibes and debates. Still, calling yourself Socrates is bold.

The “philosophy reader” versus “actual philosopher” comparison is also painfully accurate. You start as a normal person who reads a book. Then you become a disheveled creature who smokes and stares at the ceiling at 3 AM. Existential memes are basically warnings disguised as jokes.

The trolley problem mashed up with shopping cart theory is the kind of remix philosophy students will argue about for an hour. Are you moral because you returned the cart when nobody watched, or because you didn’t run over five people to save one? Either way, the point is: you’re thinking too hard in a parking lot.

My favorite part of philosophy is how older thinkers would just announce universal laws like they invented them in the bath. Meanwhile a modern PhD student is sweating over citations and methodology. Philosophy memes capture that contrast perfectly: facts used to be vibes, and now we have to show our work.

And the substance dualist rejecting the brain? Beautiful. Buddy, I am a substance dualist. It’s the mind-body problem explained in one dismissive gesture. Finally, a concept you can understand without crying.

If you want more brain-spirals like these philosophy memes, fine: 41 Existential Memes That Made People Stare At The Wall, 25 School Memes For Students Who Are Burnt Out, and 30 Relatable Tweets From People Who Think Too Much.

Mike Hartley writes like he’s rolling his eyes at the universe, then asking it one more question anyway.